Rama Shows Sita the Beauty of Chitrakuta

Shloka 1 (ayodhya.94.1)

दीर्घकालोषितः तस्मिन् गिरौ गिरिवनप्रियः। विदेह्याः प्रियम् आकाङ्क्षन् स्वम् च चित्तम् विलोभयन्॥ 94.1 ॥

dīrghakāloṣitaḥ tasmin girau girivanapriyaḥ| videhyāḥ priyam ākāṅkṣan svam ca cittam vilobhayan

Having dwelt a long while on that mountain, Rama, who loved mountains and forests, desiring Videha's daughter's happiness and beguiling his own heart too —

Shloka 2 (ayodhya.94.2)

अथ दाशरथिः चित्रम् चित्रकूटम् अदर्शयत्। भार्याम् अमरसंकाशः शचीम् इव पुरंदरः॥ 94.2 ॥

atha dāśarathiḥ citram citrakūṭam adarśayat| bhāryām amarasaṃkāśaḥ śacīm iva puraṃdaraḥ

— then, like Indra the destroyer of cities showing wondrous sights to Shachi, the son of Dasharatha, godlike in splendour, showed his wife the wonders of Chitrakuta.

Shloka 3 (ayodhya.94.3)

न राज्याद् भ्रंशनम् भद्रे न सुहृद्भिर् विना भवः। मनो मे बाधते दृष्ट्वा रमणीयम् इमम् गिरिम्॥ 94.3 ॥

na rājyād bhraṃśanam bhadre na suhṛdbhir vinā bhavaḥ| mano me bādhate dṛṣṭvā ramaṇīyam imam girim

"O gentle one, seeing this lovely mountain, neither the loss of my kingdom nor this separation from my kinsmen troubles my mind."

Shloka 4 (ayodhya.94.4)

पश्य इमम् अचलम् भद्रे नानाद्विजगणायुतम्। शिखरैः खम् इव उद्विद्धैर् धातुमद्भिर् विभूषितम्॥ 94.4 ॥

paśya imam acalam bhadre nānādvijagaṇāyutam| śikharaiḥ kham iva udviddhair dhātumadbhir vibhūṣitam

"See, gentle one, this mountain, thronged with flocks of birds of every kind, adorned with mineral-streaked peaks that seem to pierce the very sky."

Shloka 5 (ayodhya.94.5)

केचिद् रजतसंकाशाः केचित् क्षतजसंनिभाः। पीतमाञ्जिष्ठवर्णाः च केचिन् मणिवरप्रभाः॥ 94.5 ॥

kecid rajatasaṃkāśāḥ kecit kṣatajasaṃnibhāḥ| pītamāñjiṣṭhavarṇāḥ ca kecin maṇivaraprabhāḥ

"Some of its slopes gleam like silver, some like fresh blood, some are yellow or madder-red, and some shine with the splendour of the finest gems."

Shloka 6 (ayodhya.94.6)

पुष्यार्ककेतुकाभाः च केचिज् ज्योतीरसप्रभाः। विराजन्ते अचलेन्द्रस्य देशा धातुविभूषिताः॥ 94.6 ॥

puṣyārkaketukābhāḥ ca kecij jyotīrasaprabhāḥ| virājante acalendrasya deśā dhātuvibhūṣitāḥ

"Others gleam like the pushyaraga gem or like fire, and some shine with the light of jyotirasa — thus the flanks of this lord of mountains shine, adorned with minerals."

Shloka 7 (ayodhya.94.7)

नाना मृगगणद्वीपितरक्षुऋक्षगणैर् वृतः। अदुष्टैर् भात्य् अयम् शैलो बहुपक्षिसमाकुलः॥ 94.7 ॥

nānā mṛgagaṇadvīpitarakṣuṛkṣagaṇair vṛtaḥ| aduṣṭair bhāty ayam śailo bahupakṣisamākulaḥ

"This mountain, thronged with countless birds and surrounded by herds of deer, leopards, hyenas and bears, all harmless, shines forth."

Shloka 8 (ayodhya.94.8)

आम्र जम्बु असनैर् लोध्रैः प्रियालैः पनसैर् धवैः। अङ्कोलैर् भव्यतिनिशैर् बिल्वतिन्दुकवेणुभिः॥ 94.8 ॥

āmra jambu asanair lodhraiḥ priyālaiḥ panasair dhavaiḥ| aṅkolair bhavyatiniśair bilvatindukaveṇubhiḥ

"With mango, jambu and asana trees, with lodhra, priyala, jackfruit and dhava trees, with ankola, bhavya and tinisha, with bilva, tinduka and bamboo —"

Shloka 9 (ayodhya.94.9)

काश्मर्य् अरिष्ट वरणैर् मधूकैः तिलकैः तथा। बदर्य् आमलकैर् नीपैर् वेत्रधन्वनबीजकैः॥ 94.9 ॥

kāśmary ariṣṭa varaṇair madhūkaiḥ tilakaiḥ tathā| badary āmalakair nīpair vetradhanvanabījakaiḥ

"— with kashmarya, arishta and varana trees, with madhuka and tilaka, with jujube and amalaka, with nipa, cane, dhanvana and pomegranate —"

Shloka 10 (ayodhya.94.10)

पुष्पवद्भिः फलोपेतैः छायावद्भिर् मनोरमैः। एवम् आदिभिर् आकीर्णः श्रियम् पुष्यत्य् अयम् गिरिः॥ 94.10 ॥

puṣpavadbhiḥ phalopetaiḥ chāyāvadbhir manoramaiḥ| evam ādibhir ākīrṇaḥ śriyam puṣyaty ayam giriḥ

"— all of them in flower, laden with fruit, richly shaded and delightful — filled with these and more, this mountain flourishes in splendour."

Shloka 11 (ayodhya.94.11)

शैलप्रस्थेषु रम्येषु पश्य इमान् कामहर्षणान्। किन्नरान् द्वंद्वशो भद्रे रममाणान् मनस्विनः॥ 94.11 ॥

śailaprastheṣu ramyeṣu paśya imān kāmaharṣaṇān| kinnarān dvaṃdvaśo bhadre ramamāṇān manasvinaḥ

"See, gentle one, these thoughtful kinnaras, delighting in love, sporting in pairs upon these lovely mountain-terraces."

Shloka 12 (ayodhya.94.12)

शाखावसक्तान् खड्गान् च प्रवराण्य् अम्बराणि च। पश्य विद्याधरस्त्रीणाम् क्रीडादेशान् मनोरमान्॥ 94.12 ॥

śākhāvasaktān khaḍgān ca pravarāṇy ambarāṇi ca| paśya vidyādharastrīṇām krīḍādeśān manoramān

"See their fine swords and garments hanging from the branches — the lovely playgrounds of the vidyadhara women."

Shloka 13 (ayodhya.94.13)

जलप्रपातैर् उद्भेदैर् निष्यन्दैः च क्वचित् क्वचित्। स्रवद्भिर् भात्य् अयम् शैलः स्रवन्मद इव द्विपः॥ 94.13 ॥

jalaprapātair udbhedair niṣyandaiḥ ca kvacit kvacit| sravadbhir bhāty ayam śailaḥ sravanmada iva dvipaḥ

"With waterfalls, springs, and trickling streams flowing here and there, this mountain shines like an elephant streaming with must."

Shloka 14 (ayodhya.94.14)

गुहासमीरणो गन्धान् नानापुष्पभवान् वहन्। घ्राणतर्पणम् अभ्येत्य कम् नरम् न प्रहर्षयेत्॥ 94.14 ॥

guhāsamīraṇo gandhān nānāpuṣpabhavān vahan| ghrāṇatarpaṇam abhyetya kam naram na praharṣayet

"The breeze from the caves, carrying the fragrance born of many flowers, arrives to delight the sense of smell — what man would it not gladden?"

Shloka 15 (ayodhya.94.15)

यदि इह शरदो अनेकाः त्वया सार्धम् अनिन्दिते। लक्ष्मणेन च वत्स्यामि न माम् शोकः प्रधक्ष्यति॥ 94.15 ॥

yadi iha śarado anekāḥ tvayā sārdham anindite| lakṣmaṇena ca vatsyāmi na mām śokaḥ pradhakṣyati

"If I should dwell here through many autumns together with you, blameless one, and with Lakshmana, grief shall never consume me."

Shloka 16 (ayodhya.94.16)

बहुपुष्पफले रम्ये नानाद्विजगणायुते। विचित्रशिखरे ह्य् अस्मिन् रतवान् अस्मि भामिनि॥ 94.16 ॥

bahupuṣpaphale ramye nānādvijagaṇāyute| vicitraśikhare hy asmin ratavān asmi bhāmini

"O radiant one, I have truly come to love this mountain — lovely, laden with flowers and fruit, thronged with birds of every kind, its peaks so wondrous."

Shloka 17 (ayodhya.94.17)

अनेन वनवासेन मया प्राप्तम् फलद्वयम्। पितुः च अनृणता धर्मे भरतस्य प्रियम् तथा॥ 94.17 ॥

anena vanavāsena mayā prāptam phaladvayam| pituḥ ca anṛṇatā dharme bharatasya priyam tathā

"By this dwelling in the forest, I have gained a twofold reward: freedom from my debt of duty to my father, and Bharata's happiness as well."

Shloka 18 (ayodhya.94.18)

वैदेहि रमसे कच्चिच् चित्रकूटे मया सह। पश्यन्ती विविधान् भावान् मनोवाक्कायसंयतान्॥ 94.18 ॥

vaidehi ramase kaccic citrakūṭe mayā saha| paśyantī vividhān bhāvān manovākkāyasaṃyatān

"Vaidehi, are you truly happy here at Chitrakuta with me, beholding these many wonders, restrained as you are in mind, speech and body?"

Shloka 19 (ayodhya.94.19)

इदम् एव अमृतम् प्राहुः राज्ञाम् राजर्षयः परे। वनवासम् भवार्थाय प्रेत्य मे प्रपितामहाः॥ 94.19 ॥

idam eva amṛtam prāhuḥ rājñām rājarṣayaḥ pare| vanavāsam bhavārthāya pretya me prapitāmahāḥ

"This very forest-life, my ancestors, the royal sages of old, have declared to be nectar itself for kings, a means to their good hereafter."

Shloka 20 (ayodhya.94.20)

शिलाः शैलस्य शोभन्ते विशालाः शतशो अभितः। बहुला बहुलैर् वर्णैर् नीलपीतसितारुणैः॥ 94.20 ॥

śilāḥ śailasya śobhante viśālāḥ śataśo abhitaḥ| bahulā bahulair varṇair nīlapītasitāruṇaiḥ

"The vast rocks of this mountain shine forth on every side, hundreds of them, richly coloured in blue, yellow, white and red."

Shloka 21 (ayodhya.94.21)

निशि भान्त्य् अचलेन्द्रस्य हुताशनशिखा इव। ओषध्यः स्वप्रभा लक्ष्म्या भ्राजमानाः सहस्रशः॥ 94.21 ॥

niśi bhānty acalendrasya hutāśanaśikhā iva| oṣadhyaḥ svaprabhā lakṣmyā bhrājamānāḥ sahasraśaḥ

"At night, thousands of self-luminous herbs shine upon this lord of mountains like tongues of sacrificial flame, radiant with their own splendour."

Shloka 22 (ayodhya.94.22)

केचित् क्षयनिभा देशाः केचिद् उद्यानसंनिभाः। केचिद् एकशिला भान्ति पर्वतस्य अस्य भामिनि॥ 94.22 ॥

kecit kṣayanibhā deśāḥ kecid udyānasaṃnibhāḥ| kecid ekaśilā bhānti parvatasya asya bhāmini

"O radiant one, some parts of this mountain look like mansions, some like gardens, and others shine as a single unbroken slab of rock."

Shloka 23 (ayodhya.94.23)

भित्त्वा इव वसुधाम् भाति चित्रकूटः समुत्थितः। चित्रकूटस्य कूटो असौ दृश्यते सर्वतः शुभः॥ 94.23 ॥

bhittvā iva vasudhām bhāti citrakūṭaḥ samutthitaḥ| citrakūṭasya kūṭo asau dṛśyate sarvataḥ śubhaḥ

"Chitrakuta shines as though it had burst up through the earth itself; and this its very summit appears auspicious on every side."

Shloka 24 (ayodhya.94.24)

कुष्ठपुन्नागतगरभूर्जपत्रोत्तरच्छदान्। कामिनाम् स्वास्तरान् पश्य कुशेशयदलायुतान्॥ 94.24 ॥

kuṣṭhapunnāgatagarabhūrjapatrottaracchadān| kāminām svāstarān paśya kuśeśayadalāyutān

"See these resting-places of lovers, spread with kushtha, punnaga and tagara leaves and birch-bark, covered over with lotus-petals."

Shloka 25 (ayodhya.94.25)

मृदिताः च अपविद्धाः च दृश्यन्ते कमलस्रजः। कामिभिर् वनिते पश्य फलानि विविधानि च॥ 94.25 ॥

mṛditāḥ ca apaviddhāḥ ca dṛśyante kamalasrajaḥ| kāmibhir vanite paśya phalāni vividhāni ca

"See, dear one, garlands of lotus crushed and cast aside by lovers, and fruits of every kind left half-eaten."

Shloka 26 (ayodhya.94.26)

वस्वौकसाराम् नलिनीम् अत्येति इव उत्तरान् कुरून्। पर्वतः चित्रकूटः असौ बहुमूलफलोदकः॥ 94.26 ॥

vasvaukasārām nalinīm atyeti iva uttarān kurūn| parvataḥ citrakūṭaḥ asau bahumūlaphalodakaḥ

"This mountain Chitrakuta, rich in roots, fruits and water, seems to surpass even Vasvaukasara, Nalini, and the land of the Northern Kurus."

Shloka 27 (ayodhya.94.27)

इमम् तु कालम् वनिते विजह्याम्। त्वया च सीते सह लक्ष्मणेन च। रतिम् प्रपत्स्ये कुलधर्मवर्धिनीम्। सताम् पथि स्वैर् नियमैः परैः स्थितः॥ 94.27 ॥

imam tu kālam vanite vijahyām| tvayā ca sīte saha lakṣmaṇena ca| ratim prapatsye kuladharmavardhinīm| satām pathi svair niyamaiḥ paraiḥ sthitaḥ

"This time, dear one, let us pass together — you, Sita, and Lakshmana and I; standing firm upon the path of the righteous, bound by my own highest vows, I shall find here a joy that increases the honour of our line."